The 2009 Toyota RAV4 has come along way from the cute little two-door pop-top of 1996. Toyota's smallest SUV has left its long-time rival, the Honda CR-V, in the feature-content dust by offering seating for seven, a low-cost navigation option and an optional V6 engine. Moving upscale can have its drawbacks, however, and the current RAV4's conservative styling might be the most noticeable of those. Where the RAV4 was once aimed at young singles with active lifestyles, the new vehicle caters to young couples with active two-year olds. While there are better equipped and less expensive seven-passenger SUVs on the market (the Hyundai Santa Fe, for example), none have the RAV4's impeccable quality, reliability reputation or strong resale value.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you want a small-to-midsize sport utility vehicle that combines car-like performance, ride, handling and fuel economy with available four-wheel drive and room for up to seven passengers, or five adults and a fair amount of cargo, the 2009 Toyota RAV4 is a good choice.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If your needs include heavy duty hauling or towing or serious off-road rambling, you may want to look elsewhere. There are many fine competitors in this class, including some that may offer a combination of attributes, price and value that are better suited to your tastes and needs.

What's New for 2009

The 2009 RAV4 gets a mild exterior freshening, a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and active headrests. New options for the Sport and Limited trims include a lower-cost navigation system and a rear backup monitor. The Limited model also receives the Smart Key entry system as standard equipment. Gear hunting is greatly reduced this year with the addition of a new uphill/downhill shift control system.

energy management, weighs less and reduces noise, vibration and harshness. Improved sealing and insulation keeps most engine noise out of the cabin, except for some (un-Toyota-like) engine harshness at wide-open throttle, even with the V6. Elimination of outer moldings around the windshield and door glass helps reduce aerodynamic drag and wind noise. While the 179-horsepower four-cylinder is more than adequate with light loads and at lower elevations, the 269-horsepower V6 offers acceleration, pulling and passing power at or near the top of this class and is recommended for heavier loads and higher altitudes.

Hill Start and Downhill Assist ControlToyota's second-generation Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) automatically prevents the vehicle from rolling backward for two to three seconds when starting from a stop on an uphill slope. Downhill Assist Control (DAC), when activated by the driver, keeps the vehicle's speed to a crawl on steep descents. Both are standard on all V6 models and four-cylinder RAV4s with the optional third-row seat.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Details

Interior

The 2009 RAV4 offers slightly less rear seat head room and legroom than the Honda CR-V, but the 60/40 reclining middle-row seats adjust fore and aft and fold flat with levers on their sides or (on two-row models) a one-touch lever in the cargo hold. The available third-row seat folds flat into the same space in the rear where standard RAV4s have hidden under-floor storage. Base RAV4s get durable fabric-covered seats, while higher-level cloth dresses Limited and Sport models, the latter in dark charcoal. The center cluster, door trim and steering wheel spokes are brushed metallic-look plastic. Lighted front cupholders, a console cell phone holder, an extra storage compartment above the glove box and a deep rear storage bin are notable features.

Exterior

The 2009 RAV4 is more substantial and less "cute" than the original, with contemporary but conventional good looks. Only the triangular rear C-pillar and vertically-wrapped taillamps are somewhat unusual, reminding us (in profile) of the very unconventional Nissan Murano. The new split-grille trapezoidal opening now flows into the front bumper, with the available fog light housing sculpted into the lower side fascia. The spare tire, mounted to the right of center on the rear door – which, unfortunately and inconveniently, swings open from the driver's side (curb side in Japan) – has a color-keyed cover with a full hard shell on Limited models. Customers who opt for the new Sport Appearance Package (4WD V6 models only) lose the rear spare and gain a set of four run-flat tires.

Options for the base model include the six-disc CD changer, daytime running lights, black painted roof rails and cross bars, 17-inch wheels and tires, third-row seat, cargo area net and tonneau cover and (with the V6 only) a tow package that increases towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. Available options on the Sport include a power moonroof with sunshade and a JBL six-disc CD changer with nine speakers and steering wheel audio controls. The Limited offers optional leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with rear-seat audio. Both the Sport and Limited can also be equipped with a rear backup monitor and GPS navigation.

Under the Hood

Toyota provides a choice of a 179-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), or a potent VVT-i V6. The former is one of the most powerful fours in this segment, while the latter, pumping out a claimed best-in-class 269 horsepower, is good for zero to 60 miles per hour bursts in slightly under seven seconds. The four-cylinder engine drives through an all-new four-speed automatic transmission and the V6 is fitted with a five-speed automatic.

"This car is basically like having a truck, except you can pretty much fit anything on the inside after putting the seats down AND it won't get wet if it rains! Also, this car has incredible durability & drives great on almost any terrain. You can even add an entire extra row of seating in the "trunk" (hatchback) if needed! And the sound system is incredible!"

"The driver's area is very constrictive. I am a very petite female and yet I feel a bit claustrophobic. There is no where to put your purse if you have a front seat passenger. The set up of the center console is wasted space, the double glove box kind of wasted space, I'm jealous of my husband's CRV for it's space and comfort of the front seat. Interior design is a bit too plastic for the price. I use my rear storage every day, Originally thought I'd love the side opening rear door, always seems to be the wrong side hinge and I miss a top opening door as a rain guard in inclement weather. Overall storage is great for me, I remove the hinged floor piece to utilize the well space better & it is the best feature for me. Overall a good car, not my favorite by far though."

"This car is in very good shape, we do not know of anything wrong with it. Services have been kept up with. We are the 2nd owner. Windshield, w. wipers, & tires are very good. We added a clear bra to the front and the windows are tinted. It has been kept garaged."